Hands to Heaven

  photo c/o Victory Caloocan In these swiftly passing days, this beloved verse left a trace.  "Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth  of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord." Philippians 3:8 It doesn't entail forgetting of good things arrived,  but an art of picking what is better than life.  For nothing else mattered in comparison to Christ.  If losing someone is a way  of making room for the new,  I reckon death is a hope  for a soul that is true If grieving caused me to cry my heart out and utter no words but Christ,  then I consider grief is better  than a beautiful sunrise If feeling lost or rejected may brought us to God's embrace,  truly sitting alone in His presence is the same  as a sweet look on His face If ungentle mourning  can be a form of praise,  then lemme wail at your feet  just to master your Grace!  If my heart had to go through war  when I deny myself,...

Sea of Galilee O pinions on fake news is getting worse, misinformation in social media rapidly circulates.  People are excessively concern of themselves and malicious comments are trending online. I've sensed so much hate, I've heard a lot of demands. This brought me to pause and dropped my phone and shut it off. I'm done praying when I grabbed my Bible to read.  The Holy Spirit took me to 1 Corinthians 13:4-13 and it recites the verses of love. I can always read this passage again and again because the word love is so rich and true. Words can't express enough, totally powerful, ineffable. He illuminates verse 7, "Love never gives up, and its faith, hope and patience never fail." Love perfectly describes as eternal. Spurgeon once preached, "God is a sun that never sets." Indeed, the picture of the Cross is the best demonstration of love and truth, because it is love, not nails, what held Jesus on that cross and His love surpassed death because it doe...

Trying to take my mind off any racing thoughts. But it doesn't work, still wide awake. I realized it's already midnight, so I tend to pray again a little, return to bed. Staring at the dark ceiling, toss and turn, then noticed it's been already an hour since I last checked the time.       Thinking of something deep, seeking God for clear answers about matters of heart.  Asking him like, "really Lord, you said yes, and this is for real?.... But why it seemed I don't see any signs?", "Did I heard you right ?"  or "Am I only getting impatient?..." Then it is even getting harder to catch a sleep.  There are times that I sincerely prayed for something, committing all my strength to wait on it, believing  that I heard the Lord clearly with the confirmation of the Scripture. But there were days that doubts start rising, and not always in the mood to praise. Times when all of the sudden, I simply want to stop and tell God, " did ...

"You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil. My cup runs over." Psalm 23:5  NKJV Psalm 23 is a comforting psalm which is the reason many Christians cherish it. As we go through each verses, we’ve seen how the Lord is our Good Shepherd, our Protector, our Peace, our daily Provider, and Rest, and our Guide through every circumstance. We reminded of God’s faithfulness, that He leads us through dark valleys while watching over us with His rod and staff. All of that is amazing enough to prompt us to praise Him, but we may wonder what happens after we pass through the valley? What does the Lord do then? I remember visiting my Aunt Carol’s house it was during Christmas that every member of my family come altogether to feast and celebrate. She and my Dad were the main crew in the kitchen. They always think of the best menu and cook with complete ingredients, lavished with love and serve in appetizing look. My other cousins ...

The tension at the issue is:  Do our faith, traditions and creeds serve to interpret our experience of this pandemic? Or does our experience serve to challenge, redefine and refine our creeds, traditions, faith, songs?   The Church historic confession begins with “I believe in God the Father Almighty” . This presupposes that God can control everything. Nothing in the world could ever happen without his hands on them. The creed continues, “ And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord ... suffered... crucified... died.” This also illustrates how great Christ’s love is! He suffered and died for no other reason but love. This creed has become widely accepted in the 4th century and until now we use it for liturgical   and   catechetical   purposes. The Bible also reveals an all-powerful omnipotent God. More than 300 times in the Old and New Testaments God was mentioned as Almighty. Many times, God’s continuing love and care is attested (Psalms 104:27-3...

The birth of Christianity was a resounding phenomenon because it totally impacts the ancient world. In connection, the gospel turned out to be more essential when it stimulates and motivates the thinking of the readers about the teachings and commands of Christ. The book of Matthew is universally acknowledged as the first book among the synoptic gospels. Probably, because Matthew’s gospel has brilliantly echoed what is acknowledged to be the heart of Christ; making disciples. In association, this passage (Matt 28:16-20) is purposed to proclaim the greatest command of Christ to the believers. The commands (word) of Christ were powerfully spoken to the disciples and to those who come with him in his journey as he walked in the flesh. Since it is known to be written through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, it is apparent to consider that what is spoken must have to be heard, and what is heard must have to be performed. In this sense, each word shall become alive and active. ...

Me at the Prayer Mountain   I felt guilty because before I read my Bible, I grabbed my phone to check e-mails and messages. Honestly, I will never do this again in the morning all I want is God’s word that came in first to my head. Since yesterday, I felt so worried with a lot of things, anxious about what is happening around. But when I opened chapter 14 of John, Jesus said  “Do not be worried & upset, believe in God & also believe in Me.”  After speaking these words silently, I felt sudden comfort like he immediately pacified my wandering heart. Then after, a thought of assurance in my spirit says, “ I will come back to take you with me where there will be no sorrow and pain, you and all things new .” Jesus even said the word  prepare  in verse 2; I became curious how does Jesus prepares room  for us  there? The disciples sensed both peace and power when Jesus stated verse 10, “ I am the Way the Truth and & the Life, no one ...

Sunset Sky The bible tells that our heart is the wellspring of life. It is the seat of our inmost being, where our real identity lies. In counseling, it is my goal to go beyond words, actions, and feelings. I must find out why and how a person reacts on a certain way, merely not on a shallow basis. It is my task to go as deep as to where my counselee needs and invite me to be. On the other hand, God completely knows what heart is set on. No need for questions nor counseling, His eyes has a capacity to look directly at it. He knows every beat, every will, every pound, every yield, he knows the last reason of its cry, and how it was denied. He knows the reason of every why, and the very time of this little heart to freeze and die.             Addison Leitch said, “When the will of God crosses to the will of man somebody has to die.” Life requires countless of “little” deaths- it is where a person has to utter- no to sel...